Are e-scooters a danger to your employees?

Employers should update their policies and talk to employees about safe use.

If you’re in Denver, you’ve probably noticed the increasing numbers of dockless electronic scooters appearing all over town. As more and more people are turning to these scooters to get around, we’re taking the opportunity to urge businesses with urban operations to update their policies to take this new and readily available mode of transportation into account.

While we haven’t seen e-scooter-related claims to date, if an employee opts to use a motorized scooter for a work-related purpose and is injured, a workers’ compensation claim could result under certain circumstances. In addition, helmets are not always readily available to riders, which increases an employees’ risk of a severe injury.  

“As more riders zip around our city centers amid pedestrian and vehicle traffic, it’s important that employers evaluate the use of these scooters as part of their risk management plan and make clear the circumstances of their appropriate use,” said Jim McMillen, Pinnacol’s director of safety services. “If employers have concerns about employees getting injured on scooters in the course of work-related duties, they need to update their policies and clearly communicate guidance to their workforce.”

If you have questions, contact one of our on-call safety consultants at safetyoncall@pinnacol.com. They’re available M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.